Clasp for bracelets and like articles of jewelry



Patented pr. 7, 1925..

UNITED STATES 1,532,632 PATENT OFFICE.

ALMYR L. NEWMAN, OF WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO A. L.'NEW1VIAN COMPANY, OF CRANSTON, RHODE' ISLAND, A CORPORA- 'rloN or RHODE ISLAND.

CLASP FOR BRACELETS AND LIKE-ARTCLES OF '.TEVELRY.

Application led January 11, 1924.

One object of the improvement is to pro-y vide a simple, compact clasp of the type specified having means for effectually locking it to the loop on the watch.`

Another object of the improvement is to' provide a clasp composed of only two parts which may be constructed from sheet-metalk stampin'gs and which may be assembled by simple operations without requiring skill or expertness on the part of the workman.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a clasp of the type specified in which the parts are adapted to be heldk permanently in their cooperative relation without danger of their becoming deranged or getting out of order. Y

Another object of the improvement Ais to provide a clasp of the type specified which is firmly locked in position to prevent acci dental unfastening and which is proof against wear orbreakage under hard use.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a device of the type specified which is economical to manufacture.

Further objects of the improvement are setforth in the following specification which describes several preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated by the accoi'npanying drawings. In the drawings: y Fig. l is a plan view of a wrist watch showing the improved clasp as applied to the ends ofthe bracelet and hooked into the loops on the watch and locked thereto;

Fig. 2 is a greatly .enlarged side view of the improved clasp showing its lockingmeans open; I

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the locking means closed to secure the clasp to the loop on the watch;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the blank from which the main portion of the clasp is constructed;

Serial Nfo. 685,544.

F ig. 5 is va perspective view showing the blank partly formed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the locking-member of the clasp;

Fig. 7 is aV perspective view showing the parts of the device assembled in the complete clasp; and

Figs. 8 and 9 perspective views showing modifications in the form of the clasp and its lockingsmember.

In accordance with a prevailing fashion wrist watches are worn on Vlink-bracelets, or flexible metal ribbons or straps which are woven, braided or otherwise fabricated from strands of wire. The present improved clasp is adapted for use with such types of bracelets for wrist watches and consists essentially of a hook-member adapted to be inserted through the loop on the 'side of the watch, and having means foil locking the hook or clasp in place to prevent it from becoming detached from the watch.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the present drawings, the hook-member 2 of the clasp comprises a shank-portion 3 adapted to be attached to the end of the bracelet band or strap 4, and having a widened curved beak '5 projecting forwardly therefrom to adapt it to hook through the loop 6 on the side of the watch 7 as illustrated in Fig. l. The main hook-portion of the clasp is preferably vconstructed from a flat blank stamped or punched out from sheet-metal in the form shown in Fig. 4. At one end vof the blank is the shank-portion 3 coinprising a lateral strip having end-tabs i9 adapted to be bent at right-angles, as shown in Fig. 5, and then folded around the marginal 'edges of the bracelet strap 4 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The portion of the vblank which forms the hook of the clasp is of substantially oblongshape, as shown in Fig. .4, and is pierced or slotted with a relatively narrow,rectangular opening 10 extending longitudinally thereof. The outer end of the slot or opening lO is slitted diagonally away from the corners at 1l to provide a substantially V-shaped flap-like tongue 12 which is adapted to be bent upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to form a wider orifice at this end of the slot.

The locking-member or catch for the clasp comprises essentially a ltubular sleeve right-angles `to the shank 3, and with its hook-portion bent over in partly Acurved form. n The triangular or V-shaped 'tongue 12 is also bent upwardly to provide the enlarged opening at the endlof t-he slot 10 whereby to allow the locking-member or catch 13 to vbe placed vin position in relation thereto. The locking-sleeve 14 isirst placed beneath the bent over hook-portion of the clasp-member and the tab or finger-piece 16 *then inserted upwardlyY through the enlarged 4opening at the end ot the slot 10. 25

The sleeve llifis lthen Vrotated to slide the linger-piece 1G into ythe slot 1() in the hook- Ymember 2 with its narrowed, undercut-portion engaging the sides of the slot and its shoulders 17 overlapping 'the edges thereof'. The en-d of the hook-'. po-rtion is then rolled or bent around to 'form the'curved'beak 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and during this operation the triangular tongue 12 is bent back into place, as illustrated in Fig. 7, so as Ito close the end ot the slot 10. It will thus be seen =that 'the Anotched edges lor Vshoulders 17 `on the `finger-piece 16 will hold the central sleeve V141 in place within the sides of the curvedbeak 50i the clasp and theend ot Vthe tongue 12 will act as a stop to limit the turning movement of :the sleeve in onedirection, its n'iovement inthe'reverse Vdirection Abeing limited 'bythe'opposite 'end 'ot the slot 10. The clasp is now ready to be attached tothe end ot the bracelet which may consist either ot a strap las shown, or a series o flat fiexible links, or 'may 'be ot any-other suitable construction, the jjoi'nder bet\\.'een the partsbeing effected by folding the end-tabs A9 around the edges ot" the bracelet and soldering or otherwise securing them thereto.

`Referring Vto Fig. 2, the beak of the hook-member 2 is opened'to receive the wire loop 6 on the watch 7,v illustrated in Figa 1, by turning the Enger-piece 16 toward the outer end of the slot 10 until it brings up against the end of the'tongue The clasp can then be hooked :through the loop 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1., and to lock it in vplace thereon the tab'or linger-,piece 16 is "turned back in the opposite direction until it strikes against the rearward end of the slot 10. As the tab is turned back in this manner the sleeve 14- will be rotated within vthe curved beak of the hook-member 2 to bri-ng. it into the position shown in 'Fig'. 3, so that it closes 'the open end of the hook to prevent the latter from being ireleased'or unclasp'edV from the l'oopG onthe watch -7 The curved beak 5 of the 'hook-member 2 is ycompressed around the exterior of the sleeve 14e to exert "tension "thereon that a slight frictional resistance will be` applied to the turning moi/*ement of the 'sleeve within the hook to prevent its unwarranted opening.

1n Fig. S of 'the 4drawings 1 have illustrated a slightly different construction of lthenia-in claspor hook-memberin which yits shank is extended Ato provide a relatively longer box-like casing 20. The sides 2170i ithe casino' 20 are vbent vor folded around Ato enclose the usual slide, not' herein illustrated, which is attached 'to the end ofthe bracelet Yand normally held telescopedwithinthe casing by means of a spring. The slide may be drawn out of the casing against `the action of the spring to expand the bracelet at its ends. This Vform of eXpansion-means being commonly employed inthe artit need net be hereinl further described in detail. 1n the construction of the hookmember 22 shown in Fig. 8 `themethod of i `foriningthe enlarged opening 2S for the insertion of the inge'r-piece rin the/slot 24 is 'gv'aried 'somewhat from that lirst'described. In this 'embodiment of the 'invention vthe opening takes vthe shape ot a cross-slot 23 r4tormedby shearing vaway twonarrow'lateral prongs or `flaps 25 land bending them upwardly Vas shown. After Vthe linger-piece 16' on jthe :lockiirigmember 14, `:shown `:in Fig. 6, has been inserted through j'the cross-slot 23 and slid into the main slot 24"theflaps 25 vvare bent or Arolled 4back in'to place -to close the opening 'to prevent'escape of the ingerpiece 'as with the construction sho-wn in, Fig. 5.

'9 illustrates a rmodili'ed construction ol 'the lockinglmember for 'the clasp which, in its preferred torni, is made entirely in one piece. That 'is to sav, the finger-'piece '2.6 isconstructed integral `with"theilockingsleeve 27, being constitutedas'a tab punched "or sheared away vfrom kthe metal ofthe sleeve and bent back from 'the opening `28 so 'formed to adapt it to project radiallythere from.

It 'will be observed from vthe above 1that 'the present invention provides a particuvides means for opening the locking-member of the clasp also serves as a means for securing the parts permanently together to prevent them from becoming loose or detached, and the arrangement for inserting the finger-piece through the slot in the hookmember and thereafter closing the enlarged end of the slot, to prevent its release therefrom, effects a permanent union between the parts without pins, pintels or other jointed connections. The improved clasp is most efficient in use for the purpose described, being proof against breakage l-or" getting out of order, and also adapted for securely fastening the bracelet to the watch without danger of its becoming unclaspcd. Furthermore, the improvement provides a clasp of exceptionally strong and rugged structure which also has a particularly neat and finished appearance and which can be manufactured at relatively small cost.

Various modifications other than shown may be made in the form'and structure of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; there-fore, without limiting myself to the exact disclosure herein made, I claim:

l. An article of the type specified comprising a clasp-member having a hooked beak, an open-sided tubular sleeve rotatable within the hook to close the opening of the beak, and a linger-piece on said sleeve projecting through a slot in the hook and having its outer portion enlarged to overlap the edges of the slot, the' finger-piece being inserted through an enlarged opening at the end of the slot formed by cutting away the metal to provide a flap-like tongue which is afterward bent back to close the end of the slot and to act as a stop to limitl the turning movement of the sleeve. Y

2. An improved clasp for use with watchbracelets or for similar purposes comprising a hook-member formed with a shank adapted to be attached to the end of the bracelet and provided with a circular hooked beak extending forwardly therefrom, a tubular open-sided sleeve rotatable within the hook to adaptit to close the opening of the beak, and a finger-piece projecting radially from the sleeve through a slot in the hook, said finger-piece provided with undercut edges adapted to overlie the sides of the slot, and said hook cut away diagonally at the ends of its slot to provide a tongue adapted to he bent upwardly to admit the linger-piece through the slot and to afterward be bent back into place to hold the parts in permanent connection with the finger-piece slidable along the slot and prevented from escape therefrom by the bent over tongue which acts as a stop to limit the turning movement of the sleeve.

3. An improved clasp for watch-bracelets and'like articles of jewelry comprising a hook-member having a shank consisting of a lateral strip provided with rend-tabs adapted to be folded around the end of the bracelet, a circular hook-portion projecting forwardly from the cross-strip and formed with a longitudinal slot having diagonal slits at its corners providing a triangular tongue which may be bent upwardly to form an enlarged opening at the end of the slot, a locking member consisting in a tubular open-sided sleeve rotatable within the circular hook of the clasp-member, and a finger-piece projecting substantially radially from the sleeve with an enlargement at its outer end adapted to be inserted through the enlarged opening at the end of the slot and to overlap the edges of the slot when the finger-piece is slid therethroughv to turn the sleeve within the hook, the tongue at the end of the slot in the hook-member being bentL back into place to prevent release of the finger-piece whereby to hold the sleeve in place within the hook.

4. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a clasp-member having a circular hooked beak formed with a longitudinal slot, and an open-sided tubular sleeve rotatable within the hook to close the mouthl `of the beak, said sleeve provided with an ture.

ALMYR L. NEWMAN. 

